Abrasive composition



Patented Aug. 18, 1953 ABRASIVE COMPOSITION Chester 0. Fowler, Evanston, Ill., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Marino, Inc., Chicago, III., a corporation of Illinois No Drawing. Application February 28, 1950, Serial No. 146,919

'Claims. 1

This invention relates generally to a composition of matter and more particularly to an abrasive composition for improving the cutting efficiency of mechanical hair clippers, electric shavers, and similar devices having closely engaging cutting surfaces.

Frequently during the course of normal usage the shearing surfaces of mechanical hair clippers, electric shavers, and the like become slightly damaged so that the cutting operation is impaired. When, for example, the cutting teeth of an electric shaver become dull or dented and exhibit an objectionable pulling action on the hair growth being cut, it has generally been considered necessary to return the cutting head to the manufacturer for repairs or replacement. Even new clippers and electric shavers with their cutting surfaces in registration frequently exhibit an objectionable pulling action on the hair being cut, apparently due to slight irregularities and imperfections in the cutting surfaces. It is highly desirable that these imperfections be corrected without returning the clippers or shavers to the dealer or manufacturer.

Heretofore, it has not been considered feasible for the individual owner to employ an abrasive composition or similar preparation which has been ofiered for use on hair clippers, electric shavers or the like because of the generally unsatisfactory results obtained and particularly because of the difiiculty encountered in removing the composition from the cutter after using. It has now been found that the foregoing difiiculties may be overcome and the cutting heads having imperfections in the cutting surfaces thereof may be placed in excellent condition by using a suitable abrasive composition having a water-soluble base.

Thus, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved abrasive composition for improving the cutting efficiency of cutting implements having closely engaging cutting surfaces.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved abrasive composition for reconditioning cutting implements having closely engaging cutting surfaces.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an imposed abrasive composition for sharpening cutting implements having closely engaging cutting surfaces.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved abrasive composition for cutting implements which can be readily removed therefrom.

' tion useful for reconditioning cutting implements, water-soluble compositions are used as a base or carrier for a suitable abrasive and other added ingredients. It is important to provide a base which is not greasy so that it can be readily removed by rinsing in water and which may have a wide range of consistency depending upon the particular use intended. It has been found preferable for general usage to provide a base for the abrasive which has a pasty consistency capable of flowing at room temperature. It will, of course, be understood that the consistency of the composition may also be controlled within limits by varying the proportion of abrasive used.

Water-soluble compositions of the type de-- scribed which have been found suitable for use in an abrasive composition for reconditioning cutting implements are the polyoxyethylene glycols, polyoxyethylene carboxylates such as polyoxyethylene stearate, carboxy methyl cellulose, the higher fatty acid mono-esters of glycol and glycerol, and natural fats, oils, and waxes containing suitable added dispersing agents to render them Water soluble.

To specifically illustrate the present invention, applicant employs as the water-soluble base for the abrasive compositions a mixture of polyoxyethylene glycols, although one skilled in the art will realize that any of the above-mentioned compositions could be used as the water-soluble base. These glycols may have Widely varying molecular weights with the lower molecular weight glycols bein liquid and the higher molecular weight glycols being solid. For the present invention, it is preferable to use a combination of low and high molecular weight polyoxyethylene glycols so proportioned as to provide a pasty consistency when combined with the abrasive and other ingredients. In the trade the polyethylene glycols having a molecular weight above 1000 are referred to as carbowaxes, e. g., carbowax 1500, carbowax 4000, etc., with the higher numbered carbowaxes having a harder consistency than the lower numbered members.

3 Below a molecular weight of 1000 the polyethylene glycols are liquids and are designated as polyethylene glycol 300 or P. E. G. 300, etc. The lower numbered members of this group have lower viscosities than the higher numbered members.

Abrasive ingredients which may be used are levigated alumina, silica, rouge, Carborundum, graphite, and other similar materials selected so as to provide the necessary cutting action for the particular requirement. It is preferred, however, to use an abrasive substance which is mildly abrasive and which has nodeleterious effect upon the skin. Levigated alumina has been found suitable for the present purpose.

The following specific examples are by Way of illustration only and should not be construed to limit the scope of the invention to the specific ingredients disclosed:

Example I Percent Levigated alumina 16.0 P. E. G. 300 21.0 Carbowax 1500 63 In preparing the above composition the polyethylene glycol (P. E. G. 300) and carbowax 1500 are heated to a temperature of about 60 C. (140 F.) in a suitable container to form a homogeneous solution and the levigated alumina is then sifted into the solution gradually with constant stirring until the mixture cools to room temperature. The cooled mixture is then crushed in a suitable ball mill or the like to break up any aggregates of alumina which may be present. The milled product may then be placed in collapsible tubes for use.

Example II Percent Levigated alumina 50 P.'E. G. 300 33.3 Carbowax 1500 16.7

The latter composition is prepared in the same manner as in Example I.

From the foregoing example it Will be evident that as the abrasive component is decreased the heavier carbowax component is increased correspondingly. And, in very low abrasive concenr-ations, small percentages of a still heavier carbowax such as carbowax 4000 may be advisedly used to obtain the desired pasty consistency for the final product. It will also be evident that as the abrasive component is increased, the converse of the foregoing will be true.

Where the cutting implements being reconditioned are used, for example, to remove hair from the skin of living animals or humans, it has been found highly desirable to incorporate in the abrasive composition a substance which has a beneficial effect upon the skin in case minute traces of the abrasive composition should remain on the cutting implement. For this purpose olive oil, glycerine, or lanolin and similar em'ollients may be used preferably in combination with a suitable dispersing agent, as those emollients are not water-soluble. While the latter is not readily water-soluble, when combined with the water-soluble base material it can be removed by washing thoroughly with water. The latter requirement in itself is considered desirable because it has been found that if only water-soluble compositions are combined with the abrasive ingredient, there is with some mixtures a tendency for the base to wash away rapidly and leave a thin deposit of abrasive 'material on the cutting implement which is sometimes diflicult to remove and may irritate the skin. By requiring thorough rinsing, the removal of all the abrasive and fines is insured, and at most only a thin film of the emollient remains on the cutting implement.

The following example is illustrative of the latter abrasive composition containing an emollient but should not limit the invention to the specific ingredient disclosed:

Example I I I In preparing the latter abrasive composition the polyethylene glycol (P. E. G.) and carbowax 1500 are heated to a temperature about 60 0. F.) in a suitable container to form a ho mogeneous solution and combined with a mixture of the sodium lauryl sulphate and anhydrous lanolin. The levigated alumina is then sifted into the mixture with constant stirring until cooled and the mixture milled and tubed as in Example I.

In using the compositions disclosed herein to recondition a cutting implement such as an electric shaver, a small amount of the abrasive composition such as described in Example III is dispensed from a tube directly upon the cutting head or onto the operators finger and the composition ru'o ed over the outer face of the cutting head. The shaver is started and allowed to run in the normal manner for about five minutes, although the time period may be varied considerably. After about 5 minutes, the abrasive composition is removed from the cutting head by rinsing thoroughly in Water as by inserting beneath a hot-water faucet and wiped dry. The process may, of course, be repeated if the particular cutter requires further treatment.

7 Hair clippers, electric shavers, and similar cutting implements which have been treated in the foregoing manner with the herein-disclosed compositions are provided with sharper cutting surfaces having fewer irregularities therein so that smoother and closer cutting is possible. Thus, for example, when an electric shaver which pulls appreciably because of dull and dented cutting teeth or because the cutting members are slightly out of registration is treated with the compositions disclosed herein, the shaver will no longer exhibit a pulling action and will give a closer, smoother shave. By smoothing out slightly burred and irregular surfaces of the cutting surfaces and by making the outer cutting member thinner, it is possible to greatly increase the cutting efficiency of the shaver and also provide a closer, smoother shave.

Obviously, many modifications and varations of the invention disclosed herein may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

I claim:

1. A composition for improving the cutting efficiency of cutting implements having closely engaging cutting surfaces which comprises essentially a mixture of water soluble poly alkyl compositions selected from the group consisting of polyoxyethylene glycol, polyoxyethylene carboxylates, and polyoxyethylene stearate having 55 therein between about 16 and 63% of a said poly alkyl composition with a molecular weight of at least 1000 and between about 20 and 33% of a said poly alkyl composition with a molecular weight less than 1000 as a base material, and a finely divided abrasive material selected from the group consisting of alumina, silica, rouge, carborundum and graphite distributed throughout the said base material, whereby an abrasive composition is formed which is readily removed from the cutting surfaces.

2. A composition for improving the cutting efficiency of cutting implements having closely engaging cutting surfaces which comprises essentially a mixture of about 16 to 63% polyethylene glycol having a molecular Weight of about 1500 and between about 20 and 33% polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight of about 300 as a base material, and between about 16 and 50% of levigated alumina, whereby an abrasive composition is formed which is readily removed from the cutting surfaces.

3. A composition for improving the cutting efficiency of cutting implements having closely engaging cutting surfaces which comprises a mixture of about 63% polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight of about 1500 and about 21% polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight of about 300 as a base material, and about 16% levigated alumina distributed uniformly throughout said base material, whereby an abrasive composition is formed which is readily removed from the cutting surface.

4. A composition for improving the cutting efficiency of cutting implements having closely engaging cutting surfaces which comprises a mixture of about 16% polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight of about 1500 and about 33% polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight of about 300 as a base material, and about 50% levigated alumina distributed throughout the base material whereby an abrasive composition is formed which is readily removed from the cutting surfaces.

5. A composition for improving the cutting efficiency of cutting implements having closely engaging cutting surfaces which comprises a mixture of about 60% polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight of about 1500, about 20% polyethylene g-lycol having a molecular weight of about 300, and about 2% anhydrous lanolin as a base material, and about 16% levigated alumina uniformly disbursed throughout said base material, whereby an abrasive composition is formed which is readily removed from the cutting surfaces.

CHESTER C'. FOWLER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,327,648 Wesson Jan. 13, 1920 1,845,250 Driscoll Feb. 16, 1932 2,078,876 Hennessey Apr. 27, 1937 2,090,708 Stahl Aug. 24, 1937 2,322,066 Smith June 15., 1943 2,501,145 Smith Mar. 21, 1950 2,548,582 Boak Apr. 10, 1951 OTHER REFERENCES Synthetic Organic Chemicals, 12th edition,

' July 1, 1945; Carbide & Carbon Chem. C'orp., pgs.

21 and 23. 

1. A COMPOSITION FOR IMPROVING THE CUTTING EFFICIENCY OF CUTTING IMPLEMENTS HAVING CLOSELY ENGAGING CUTTING SURFACES WHICH COMPRISES ESSENTIALLY A MIXTURE OF WATER SOLUBLE POLY ALKYL COMPOSITIONS SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF POLYOXYETHYLENE GLYCOL, POLYOXYETHYLENE CARBOXYLATES, AND POLYOXYETHYLENE STEARATE HAVING THEREIN BETWEEN ABOUT 16 AND 63% OF A SAID POLY ALKYL COMPOSITION WITH A MOLECULAR WEIGHT OF AT LEAST 1000 AND BETWEEN ABOUT 20 AND 33% OF A SAID POLY ALKYL COMPOSITION WITH A MOLECULAR WEIGHT LESS THAN 1000 AS A BASE MATERIAL, AND A FINELY DIVIDED ABRASIVE MATERIAL SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF ALUMINA, SILICA, ROUGE, CARBORUNDUM AND GRAPHITE DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT THE SAID BASE MATERIAL, WHEREBY AN ABRASIVE COMPOSITION IS FORMED WHICH IS READILY REMOVED FROM THE CUTTING SURFACES. 